William DeShazer/Staff
Cheryl Harbord, an aircraft marshall, directs a plane carrying a family leaving Naples before the arrival of Tropical Storm Isaac at the Naples Municipal Airport on Saturday Aug. 25, 2012.

Naples Daily News

Jim Lennane

A plane roared overhead as Jim Lennane swung his legs onto a desk in his office at the Naples Municipal Airport.

Clasping his hands behind his head, he recounted 20 years in the aviation business, chartering jets at the Naples Municipal Airport and the years before that as a businessman selling a technology systems to the nation's newspapers. A pilot himself and the owner of Continental Aviation, he served two years as a commissioner for the Naples Airport Authority.

"So I know a lot about airplanes," he said.

At their November meeting, commissioners from the authority heard Lennane make a pitch to test out his latest venture: An expensive attempt to measure sound produced by jets at the airport.

Commissioners are skeptical.

"My goal in this is to bring the citizens and the airport some facts to end the never-ending argument," Lennane said. "How much louder is a jet take off than a leaf blower? Or rock and roll? There are no facts."

The experiment would consist of placing between 16 and 20 highly sensitive microphones throughout the city of Naples from the coast to the bay and from Fifth Avenue South to Aqualane Shores, where residents commonly complain about airport noise.

When a series of microphones sensed a take off or landing noise, the event would be recorded and sent to a central computer, which would then create a moving noise profile for the aircraft.

"Here's what happens," Lennane said. "You're sitting there and you go 'Oh my God, that was so loud.' Now you can call up the recording and you have a talking point."

Lennane has tinkered with the idea for two years, and more seriously for the last year with the help of a college intern. He estimates it would cost $2,500 to build each microphone station, which would then be placed at volunteer residences throughout the community. Each microphone set is about a foot tall and comes with a black windshield that slips over top and metal prongs to dissuade birds from landing.

Lennane estimates it would cost $5,700 a month to run the experiment.

Some airport commissioners questioned the accuracy of the concept at their meeting, saying they did not want the public to put too much stake into what could end up being a failed experiment. They agreed that Lennane should make a presentation at the next meeting of the Noise Compatibility Committee on Jan. 23.

"I'm looking forward to seeing the demonstration and understanding," said Ted Baldwin, a noise consultant with the airport, who attends committee meetings. "It's a small market with very few vendors in it. I'm always excited when someone gets into the market because it creates innovation at a lower cost."

Scottie Yeager, chair of the Noise Compatibility Committee, said she too is looking forward to the presentation and is open to the possibility.

"I think certain parts of the community would be receptive (to the experiment)," she said. "Is it the right thing for Naples? Is it not? Is that really going to help us go where we need to go?"

The Noise Compatibility Committee has been advising airport staff on noise abatement procedures since it was formed in 1997. Comprised of volunteer residents, the committee solicits community input and has had a role in starting the noise complaint hotline for the airport along with this year's "Please Fly Safe, Fly Quiet" campaign, among other accomplishments.

Lennane is the first to admit his project might fail. But an attempt at securing some facts is better than relying on anecdotal accounts, he said.